Reinforced plastic pallet

ABSTRACT

A reinforced plastic pallet includes a load-supporting platform, four corner legs respectively adjacent to corner surfaces of the platform, and four side legs respectively adjacent to side edges, and two side reinforcing bars protruding downward from a bottom surface of the platform. Each leg has a hollow structure defined by a surrounding wall. An inner surface of the surrounding wall confines a hollow space and is formed with a plurality of ridges and troughs arranged alternately and angularly displaced from one another. Each side reinforcing bar defines a groove in a top surface of the platform, and extends into the hollow spaces. The structure of the whole plastic pallet can be strengthened.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 098211712, filed on Jun. 29, 2009, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a plastic pallet, more particularly to a reinforced plastic pallet.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional plastic pallet 1 includes a load-supporting platform 11, a support leg unit 12 extending downwardly from a lower surface of the platform 11, and a plurality of reinforcing bars 13 extending downwardly from the lower surface of the platform 11. The platform 11 has two first side edges 112 extending along a first direction 111, and two second side edges 112′ extending along a second direction 113 transverse to the first direction 111. Each of the first and second side edges 112,112′ has a straight segment 114 and a plurality of spaced-apart slope segments 115 extending downwardly and inwardly from the straight segment 114. The support leg unit 12 includes four corner legs 121 disposed adjacent to corners of the platform 11, four side legs 122 each disposed adjacent to one of the first and second side edges 112,112′, and a center leg 123 disposed at a center of the platform 11. The reinforcing bars 13 extend in the first direction 111, and interconnecting the adjacent legs 121, 122, 123.

Each leg 121, 122, 123 has a surrounding wall 125 tapering downwardly to terminate at a bottom wall 124. A top end of each leg 121,122 is spaced apart from the respective slope segment 115 by a distance 14 for facilitating stacking and transportation. However, since the legs 121, 122, 123 have a hollow structure formed by a non-ridged tapering surrounding wall, they lack sufficient structural strength. In addition, the platform 11 is not provided with any efficient reinforcing means. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the plastic pallet 1 is placed across two spaced-apart steel bars 10 of a storage rack, since the platform 11 is supported only by four corner legs 121 and two side legs 122 and since the center leg 123 and the other two side legs 122 are suspended, the platform 11 deforms and sags easily when loaded with heavy goods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced plastic pallet which has a reliable structural strength.

According to this invention, the reinforced plastic pallet includes a load-supporting platform, a supporting leg unit, and two side reinforcing bars. The platform has top and bottom surfaces, two first side edges which extend between the top and bottom surfaces in a first direction, two second side edges which extend between the top and bottom surfaces in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, and four corner surfaces, each interconnecting one of the first side edges and one of the second side edges. The supporting leg unit includes four corner legs which are respectively adjacent to the corner surfaces, and four side legs which are respectively adjacent to the first and second side edges. Each of the corner and side legs has a hollow structure defined by a surrounding wall which extends downwardly from the bottom surface and which has an inner surface. The inner surface confines a hollow space and is formed with a plurality of ridges and troughs which are arranged alternately and which are angularly displaced from one another about a line extending downward from the bottom surface. Each side reinforcing bar protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the platform, defines a groove in the top surface, and extends along one of the first side edges and into the hollow spaces of two of the corner legs and one of the side legs. By virtue of the inner surface of each leg with the alternately arranged ridges and troughs, and by virtue of the side reinforcing bars with the grooves, the structure of the whole plastic pallet can be strengthened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a conventional plastic pallet;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating how the conventional plastic pallet deforms and sags when loaded with goods;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a reinforced plastic pallet according to this invention viewed from a bottom side thereof;

FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic front view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a reinforced plastic pallet according to this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary schematic top view of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the first preferred embodiment of a reinforced plastic pallet according to the present invention is made of a plastic material and has an integrally formed structure which comprises a load-supporting platform 2, a supporting leg unit 3, two side reinforcing bars 4, and a middle reinforcing bar 5.

The load-supporting platform 2 has top and bottom surfaces 27,26, two first side edges 22 which extend between the top and bottom surfaces 27,26 in a first direction 21, two second side edges 24 which extend between the top and bottom surfaces 27,26 in a second direction 23 that is transverse to the first direction 21, and four corner surfaces 25, each interconnecting one of the first side edges 22 and one of the second side edges 24 and being rounded.

The supporting leg unit 3 includes four corner legs 31 disposed respectively adjacent to the corner surfaces 25, four side legs 32 disposed respectively adjacent to the first and second side edges 22,24, and a center leg 33 disposed at a center of the bottom surface 26. Each leg 31, 32, 33 has a hollow structure defined by a surrounding wall 311, 321, 331 which extends downwardly from the bottom surface 26 and which has an inner surface 313, 323, 333. The inner surface 313, 323, 333 confines a hollow space 312, 322, 332 and is formed with a plurality of ridges 315, 325, 335 and troughs 316, 326, 336 which are arranged alternately and which are angularly displaced from one another about a line extending downward from the bottom surface 26. In this embodiment, each of the troughs 316, 326, 336 has a curvedly concaved surface and each of the ridges 315, 325, 335 has a substantially flat ridge surface formed between the concaved surfaces of two of the troughs 316, 326, 336.

The surrounding wall 311, 321, 331 of each leg 31, 32, 33 further has an outer surface 314, 324, 334 which includes two long longitudinal faces 317, 327, 337 extending in the second direction 23, and two short transverse faces 318, 328, 338 interconnecting the longitudinal faces 317, 327, 337. In each corner leg 31, one of the longitudinal faces 317 is flush with the respective second side edge 24, and one of the transverse faces 318 is flush with the respective corner surface 25. In the side legs 32, one of the longitudinal faces 327 adjacent to the second side edge 24 is flush with the respective second side edge 24, and one of the transverse faces 328 adjacent to the first side edge 22 is flush with the respective first side edge 22.

Each side reinforcing bar 4 protrudes downward from the bottom surface 26, and extends in the first direction 21 along one of the first side edge 22 and into the hollow spaces 312,322 of two of the corner legs 31 and one of the side legs 32. As best shown in FIG. 5, each side reinforcing bar 4 defines a groove 41 in the top surface 27. The groove 41 is confined by two opposite groove sidewalls 412 which extend downwardly from the top surface 27, and a groove bottom 411 interconnecting the groove sidewalls 412. The groove bottom wall 411 is lower than the bottom surface 26 of the platform 2, and is higher than a bottom end, as best shown at 320 in FIG. 5, of each of the corner and side legs 31,32.

Similarly, the middle reinforcing bar 5 protrudes downward from the bottom surface 26, and extends in the first direction 21 between the side reinforcing bars 4 and into the hollow spaces 322,332 of two of the side legs 32 and the center leg 33. The middle reinforcing bar 5 defines a groove 51 in the top surface 27.

According to the present invention, the structural strength of the legs 31, 32, 33 are increased by virtue of the surrounding walls 311, 321, 331 that are ridged in their inner surfaces 313, 323, 333 by forming the alternately arranged ridges 315, 325, 335 and troughs 316, 326, 336. In addition, the stiffness of the platform 11 is increased by the reinforcing bars 4 that are formed as U-shaped channel structures. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, when the plastic pallet is placed across two spaced-apart steel bars 6, the whole plastic pallet is rigid and can support a heavy load on the platform 2. The platform 2 does not deform even when it is supported only at some of the legs 31,32 held by the steel bars 6.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the second preferred embodiment of a reinforced plastic pallet according to this invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment in construction, expect that the platform 2 further has a plurality of leg cavities 271 formed in the top surface 27 and disposed respectively and directly above the corner, side, and center legs 31, 32, 33. Each of the leg cavities 271 has an outer periphery 270 substantially corresponding to an outer periphery of a bottom end of the surrounding wall 311, 321, 331 of each of the corner, side, and center legs 31, 32, 33. The platform 2 further has a plurality of protrusions 272 formed within the leg cavities 271, respectively. Each of the protrusions 272 is corresponding in position to the hollow space 312, 322, 332 of one of the corner, side, and center legs 31, 32, 33. When a plurality of the plastic pallets are stacked, the bottom ends of the legs 31, 32, 33 of an upper plastic pallet are received respectively in the corresponding leg cavities 271 in a lower plastic pallet, and the protrusions 272 of the lower plastic pallet are engaged in the corresponding hollow spaces 312, 322, 332 of the legs 31, 32, 33 of the upper plastic pallet. Thus, the plastic pallets can be stacked steadily in a bottom-to-top direction.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A reinforced plastic pallet comprising: a load-supporting platform having top and bottom surfaces, two first side edges which extend between said top and bottom surfaces in a first direction, two second side edges which extend between said top and bottom surfaces in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, and four corner surfaces, each interconnecting one of said first side edges and one of said second side edges; a supporting leg unit including four corner legs which are respectively adjacent to said corner surfaces, and four side legs which are respectively adjacent to said first and second side edges, each of said corner and side legs having a hollow structure defined by a surrounding wall which extends downwardly from said bottom surface and which has an inner surface, said inner surface confining a hollow space and being formed with a plurality of ridges and troughs which are arranged alternately and which are angularly displaced from one another about a line extending downward from said bottom surface; and two side reinforcing bars each protruding downward from said bottom surface and defining a groove in said top surface, each of said side reinforcing bars extending along one of said first side edges and into said hollow spaces of two of said corner legs and one of said side legs.
 2. The reinforced plastic pallet according to claim 1, wherein said supporting leg unit further includes a center leg which is disposed at a center of said bottom surface, said center leg having a hollow structure defined by a surrounding wall which extends downwardly from said bottom surface and which has an inner surface, said inner surface confining a hollow space and being formed with a plurality of ridges and troughs which are arranged alternately and which are angularly displaced from one another about a line extending downward from said bottom surface; said reinforced plastic pallet further comprising a middle reinforcing bar protruding downward from said bottom surface and defining a groove in said top surface, said middle reinforcing bar extending in the first direction between said side reinforcing bars and into said hollow spaces of two of said side legs and said center leg.
 3. The reinforced plastic pallet according to claim 1, wherein said surrounding wall of each of said corner legs has an outer surface including two longitudinal faces extending in the second direction, and two transverse faces interconnecting said longitudinal faces, one of said longitudinal faces being flush with a respective one of said second side edges, one of said transverse faces being flush with a respective one of said corner surfaces.
 4. The reinforced plastic pallet according to claim 1, wherein said surrounding wall of each of said side legs has an outer surface which includes two substantially longitudinal faces extending in the second direction, and two transverse faces interconnecting said longitudinal faces, one of said longitudinal faces of each of said side legs adjacent to said second side edges being flush with a respective one of said second side edges, one of said transverse faces of each of said side legs adjacent to said first side edges being flush with a respective one of said first side edges.
 5. The reinforced plastic pallet according to claim 1, wherein each of said troughs has a curvedly concaved surface, and each of said ridges has a substantially flat ridge surface formed between said concaved surfaces of two of said troughs.
 6. The reinforced plastic pallet according to claim 1, wherein each of said grooves is confined by two opposite groove sidewalls which extend downwardly from said top surface, and a groove bottom interconnecting said groove sidewalls, said groove bottom wall being lower than said bottom surface of said platform, and being higher than a bottom end of each of said corner and side legs.
 7. The reinforced plastic pallet according to claim 1, wherein said platform further has a plurality of leg cavities formed in said top surface and disposed respectively and directly above said corner and side legs, each of said leg cavities having an outer periphery substantially corresponding to an outer periphery of a bottom end of said surrounding wall of one of said corner and side legs.
 8. The reinforced plastic pallet according to claim 7, wherein said platform further has a plurality of protrusions formed within said leg cavities, respectively, each of said protrusions being corresponding in position to said hollow space of one of said corner and side legs.
 9. The reinforced plastic pallet according to claim 2, wherein said platform further has a leg cavity formed in said top surface directly above said center leg, and a protrusion formed within said leg cavity, said leg cavity having an outer periphery substantially corresponding to an outer periphery of a bottom end of said surrounding wall of said center leg, said protrusion being corresponding in position to said hollow space of said center leg. 